Using data from Belgian neuropathological archives, completed with the results of a comprehensive study of available medical records, we found 100 patients who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for probable or definite Creutzfeldt-Jakob d1551isease (CJD).

Mean age at death was 63 years.

The median disease duration was 9 months.

Progressive mental deterioration was present in all cases, whereas signs of cerebellar dysfunction and myoclonus were found in approximately 80% of the patients.

In 50% of the population, the EEG revealed characteristic abnormalities.

Ninety-six patients suffered from the sporadic type of CJD, while 4 suffered from a hereditary form.

In our series, we could find no evidence for the new variant, neither for an iatrogenic cause.